WHO terms latest upsurge of mpox ‘extraordinary’

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After a long fight with the deadly COVID-19 virus, an urgent warning has been issued against the spread of Marburg, Mpox and Oropouche in at least 17 countries now.
Travellers have been advised to exercise extra caution against the spread of a new pathogen called the 'Bleeding Eye' virus because of one of its symptoms. It is thought to be one of the deadliest on earth and could spread to more African countries which are already struggling to cope with other viruses and their outbreaks. Another virus, Oropouche, is being spread by midge bites in a number of South American nations as well as the tourist-friendly Caribbean state.
Mpox (previously known as monkeypox) also remains a public health emergency of international concern, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), as its cases and geographic spread are on the rise.

Mpox outbreak, initially reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has escalated significantly. Mpox cases caused by clade Ib of the virus are now present in over six WHO regions, with hotspots in the DRC, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda.
Clade Ib of the virus, which has one of the highest death rates, went from being circulated among individuals in commercial sexual networks to broader units of populations such as households and entire communities. This resulted in the infection spreading to a larger number of age groups or vulnerable population groups, or, co-infection and co-circulation with other clades and / or pathogens, according to The International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee.
There are significant challenges when it comes to controlling mpox. Inadequate local response measures, including delayed testing, insufficient contact tracing, and limited public education, have hampered progress. Vaccination coverage remains patchy, with logistical hurdles and vaccine hesitancy further complicating distribution. Although over 1.1 million vaccine doses have been allocated, their effectiveness in children and immunocompromised individuals remains uncertain.
WHO and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have implemented a joint response plan, focusing on surveillance, equitable vaccine allocation and regional collaboration. However, of the $87.4 million needed for WHO’s mpox emergency response, only $40.6 million has been secured, reflecting a critical funding gap.
To address the multifaceted dynamics of transmission, the WHO has recommended intensified local efforts, strengthened international partnerships, and the integration of predictive modelling to anticipate future outbreaks.

Down to Earth is Science and Environment fortnightly published by the Society for Environmental Communication, New Delhi. We publish news and analysis on issues that deal with sustainable development, which we scan through the eyes of science and environment.